US business visas from Lahore soon

[Naveed Yaseen]

LAHORE: US Consul General in Lahore, Carmela Conroy, has said modalities are being finalised for starting business visa service from Lahore and hopefully it will commence as soon as necessary arrangements are completed.

She was speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday. She said the US was taking all possible measures to ensure economic stability in Pakistan but for the purpose the role of business community was of utmost importance.

She said the US was more interested in people-to-people contacts than contacts between the two governments.

She said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Pakistan was a big success as she spent more time having dialogue with all segments of society including politicians, businessmen and students.

She said that Pakistan had a great future and for the purpose the business community would have to come forward so that desired results could be achieved.

Speaking on the occasion, LCCI President Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry urged the US consul general to facilitate the business community of Lahore with a platform within the city from where they could easily obtain US business visas as business-to-business contacts were necessary to maintain bilateral trade relations.

He said business delegations comprising sector-specific people or product-specific groups of entrepreneurs could be organised with clear guidelines for transfer of technology. Business houses and diplomatic missions could always join hands to get tangible results, he added.

Issues regarding free market access, delay in setting up Reconstruction Opportunity Zones, energy shortage, Afghan Transit Trade and exchange of trade delegations were raised by businessmen, to which the US diplomat assured them of her full support.

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